The Fortean and Folklore Origins of Hookland 28 April 2026 7.30 pm The Bell, E1 @hookland.bsky.social Hookland – an open-source strange landscape whose motto is re-enchantment is resistance. Details & Tickets: forteanlondon.blogspot.com/2026/03/the-...

“This isn’t just about my livelihood – it’s about justice for the lough before there’s nothing left for the next generation.” The slow murder of Lough Neagh—the largest lake on the island of Ireland & across the British Isles—is a tragedy and a travesty. Go go Declan Conlon.

East London at its Thamesy, industrial, muddy best. The boy as a bird sculpture in the docks has a coot nesting at its feet which was nice so that the sculpture didn’t look as lonely.

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Someone on here was talking about the late work of Scott Walker. Can’t remember who it was but I heard a live cover of Farmer in the city tonight and have just listened to the original. Wow. youtu.be/zIJzTWk6bSw?...

Jean-Michel Basquiat is still undergoing the indignity of a stop and search round the corner and I have entered the labyrinth.

En route to the Richard Dawson gig (time changed from 7.30 to 6.00pm). I am going with “an open heart” and a bag of mini cheddars - also knowing I’ll have to miss the last 30 minutes since obviously no one from outside of London goes to gigs and needs to catch a train afterwards.

Today marks the Spring Equinox (from Puffin Picture Book Trees in Britain, 1948) Artist: SR Badmin

An exceptionally happy significant birthday to the brilliant @realpaulputner.bsky.social, seen here alongside Kevin Eldon and @sarahgailbrand.bsky.social in some improvised jazz comedy from Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle. Paul, I hope this is how you will be celebrating. 🍎 youtu.be/4yQP3frvrA0?...

Excellent news congratulations @telescoper.bsky.social

Well @mtgallagher.bsky.social I wasn’t too far off the mark! This is a screenshot of text from a description of some of the inspiration behind the animated creatures in Small Prophets and how they were created. www.itsnicethat.com/features/wil...

This is rather lovely and beautifully filmed. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Some shameless self-promotion again: I released some new Sherbet Chocolate Truffles on my shop. 🍫✨ Three new flavours have joined the collection: Sour Apple, Rhubarb & Custard, and Dandelion & Burdock. The Easter chocolates are also still available! Reshares always appreciated. Thanks!

Lovely piece by Tim Dee. The Ted Hughes starling poem “Where I Sit Writing My Letter” is beautiful and full of starling anarchy. “They can’t believe their wings” Tim’s own description of the starling is unexpected and true - a shining black kettle of a bird -

Your lanterns shone So brightly all winter Wind and rain battered They're now growing dim. New shoots now appear Pushing you to one side Ready to glow and flame Where you once were. But I see you still And thank you For the light you Brought to all our dark days. #DailyNature #spring #resilience

Thanks to the brilliant @inkcapjournal.bsky.social I saw this. Felt such solidarity with Sheffield Tree Campaigners. Glad their sustained efforts have been somewhat recognised. Don't we want to live on healthy, leafy, tree-lined streets? Love to Sheffield, the most wooded, greenest UK city x

‘Why should we take all this trouble about growing a flower which is going to be cut down by the first frost?’ Such arguments crash like truncheons and it takes an effort to renew our determination by recalling the vivid bed which gave us weeks of pleasure last year. #gardening

A windy @ramblers.org.uk walk this morning. Quite a bit uphill! Passed Chequers, the country retreat of the Prime Minister and called in on Little Kimble church, Buckinghamshire where there are wall paintings and ancient floor tiles.

Been to watch H is for Hawk, thought it was a beautifully filmed and carefully crafted film. Hadn’t expected to be quite as floored by Helen, the character played by Claire Foy getting the awful phone call about her father’s sudden death. Had one of those calls myself and it stuck home hard.

This is how I access BlueSky

My review of the excellent #DavidByrne gig at the Armadillo in #Glasgow, on Saturday. theweereview.com/review/david...

The Lady Chapel at @stalbanscathedral.bsky.social celebrates local plants thanks to the women of the parish and a green-fingered Victorian sculptor, in my @theguardian.com #countrydiary today. #naturewriting

Ignite the beacons, News of the blackthorn’s return Travels hill to hill Simon Armitage youtu.be/_LfGfPjttgY?...

Is there a hi-vis toad patrol where you live? 🐸

Andy’s sketchbook is such a beautiful record of his focus on place and things observed, loved the imaginary finding and analysis of it in the future too. There’s a video where he shows each page.

I’ve been listening to the audiobook of Patrick Barkham’s biography about Roger Deakin. Like magic, this photo appeared on screen from my photo library. A little old cat that came to seek my Mum and I when we were lucky to stay in the black shed at Walnut Tree farm long after Roger had passed away.

Very excited to hear Simon Armitage read tonight This poem, on the second sunny day in a row, after 2 months of rain. Its reminds us of the childlike joy of catching rain on your tongue, reminds us to be glad deoir fhearthainne – raindrop, literally, ‘a rain tear’ #poetry #poemoftheday #gaeilge

Sometimes I just need voices singing together youtu.be/UpwWHlVlhQA?...

"The Met Police may want to intimidate us into contributing to the govt's closing off of the right to protest... We will continue to hire space to explicitly nonviolent groups, with appropriate checks in place, just as we always have." – Clerk of Westminster Quakers www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-eve...

Yesterday evening, for the second time in a year, the Met Police raided Westminster Quaker Meeting House and arrested a number of young nonviolent activists. STATEMENT: www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-eve...

Hmmm sorry, blocking man who has pictures in his bio that must have taken ages to perfect and he follows 99% women and has never posted anything ….

Sometimes you order a second hand book and when it arrives, it’s much more complicated than you expected. I blame John Higgs and his book Watling Street for my purchase.

Oh dear, we’re off for a medicine review 😭

Saw this at a National Theatre screening, it’s very silly and great fun. Costumes are beautiful. The most impressive and unimpressed Lady Bracknell too - Free YouTube screening 12 March www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/take-your-se...

I love that in Clare’s time, a song thrush was known as a Mavis and a Mistle thrush as a Big Mavis 😊

Met this beauty yesterday. First time I’ve seen a black swan and love the red beak. Not great photos since it was a distance away down in the reservoir near Tring.

Happy St David's Day. Here's one of our favourite episodes, recorded in Wales in 2018. Episode 106 - In time the wren will come (51 mins) A stream burbles and birds sing in the spring sunshine. > bit.ly/LenCeri6

News update from my brother. Big Terry has got into his kitchen. 🐸

Back at the Higgins Bedford today and they have a beautiful display of Ukrainian embroidered shirts.

I can highly recommend these Friday walks. A vicarious stroll through the countryside mud looking at interesting handmade signs with a pub visit.

Round of applause for the cafe toilets wallpaper on this mornings walk. 🥬

A den is a childish statement of belonging, but let’s not mistake childish for trivial. Den making is the instinctive behaviour of homemaking: collecting materials from the world around, as you work out what can be borrowed, salvaged and adapted into shelter. Nearly everyone has built a den.

If you're not wide awake, you will be after @levparikian.bsky.social's @theguardian.com country diary on the not-so elusive Cetti's warbler. #countrydiary #naturewriting

Some of the tiny intaglio stones found on the Thames foreshore by mudlarkers in the @londonmuseum.bsky.social exhibition. It closes Saturday 😿

Really looking forward to this and also spending the afternoon saying farewell to the Secrets of the Thames exhibition @londonmuseum.bsky.social which finishes this week.

The BBC's Clare Balding and some weird homeless man she found while out walking on Dartmoor. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Little cat wants me to move the knitting from my lap (although she won’t sit on my lap) she keeps catching her claws.

Saturday's the perfect day to hang out with your mates on a gravestone...

Token 2: Kate Bush and Why Should I Love You? youtu.be/I3QkkFpTggY?...